Dividing curtain for vehicle-tops.



W. G. SWEET. DIVIDING CURTAIN FOR VEHICLE TOPS.

APPLIOA'TION FILED Jun}: 1, 1913.

PatentQd Sept. 29, 1914;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

w. 0. SWEET. DIVIDING CURTAIN FOR VEHICLE TOPS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7.11913.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. '0. SWEET. mvmme (mum FOR VEHICLE TOPS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7,1913. 1,11,81 3' Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

WEBB C. SWEET, F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

'DIVIDING CURTAIN FOR VEHICLE-TOPS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept, 29,1914,

, Application filed June 7, 1913. Serial No. 772,394.

To all whom-it may concern: v

Be ,it known that I, WEBB C. SWEET, "a

. citizen of the United States of America,

'and resident of 'Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dividing Curtains for Vehicle-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicles and ner to permit the said dividing curtain to be folded so that the vehicle top may be collapsed or folded without the dividing curtain interfering with. the said folding or without injury to the said dividing curtain, due to the-folding of the said top.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dividing curtain and a fixture there for which will support the dividing curtain above the front seat of a vehicle, the said support being movable to a position \parallel with the bow of the top to which it is applied or being adjustable to stand at an angletosaid how, according to the requirements in practice, means being also provided for limiting the movement of the support for the-dividing curtain in order that it may assume a position parallel with the said bow and in orderthat it may be prevented from passing a position parallel with the bow when traveling in one direction.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a support or bracket for the dividing curtain which may be adapted to tops of different widths, enabling the top manufacturers to utilize one type of bracket or support approximately universally.

A still further object of this invention is to produce bracket clamps which will permit the ready adjustment of the bracket to hold the said bracket or the curtain supporting portion thereof at a' greater or less distance from the bow of the vehicle top to which the bracket clamps are applied, enabling the maker of the dividing curtain to position the support therefor in proper relation to the back of the front seat to which the dividing curtain is" to be attached, it being furthermore an object of this invention to provide dividing curtains which may be folded and held in nested relation to the support therefor when the said dividing curtain is notin use. i

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification wherein like characters denote corresponding, parts in the several views, and in which-- Figure 1 illustrates a sectional view of a front seat of a vehicle showing. a fragment of the top and the dividing curtain associated therewith; Fig. 2 illustrates a transverse vertical sectional view of the vehicle top showing a fragment of a seat with the dividing curtain applied thereto; Fig. 3 illustrates a sectional View of a fragment of the vehicle top showing the dividing curtain folded; Fig. 4 illustrates a transverse sectional view of a fragment of the vehicle top showing the dividing curtain folded and held suspended with relation to the bracket or bow forming its support; Fig. 5 illustrates a sectional view of a clamp for the bracket or bow ofthe dividing curtain; Fig. 6 illustrates .a top plan view thereof; Fig. 7 illustrates a bottom plan view thereof; Fig. 8 illustrates asectional view of a bracket clamp slightly modified a view in elevation partly in section of a device to be substituted for the bracket clamp to be used in conjunction with a wooden bow when the same is employed as a support for the dividing curtain; Fig. 15

illustrates a plan view thereof; Fig. 16 illustrates a erspective view of a fragment of a dividing curtain illustrating the means for connecting the said curtain to the supporting bracket or bow; Fig. 17 1 illustrates the base plate thereof; Fig. 14 illustrates r a perspective view of a fragment of the curtain showing a modifiedconstruction for suspending the said dividing curtain from the support; Fig. 18 illustrates a perspective view of a fragment of a curtain embodying a still further modification for connecting the said curtain to the support; Fig. 19 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the supporting bracket or bow showing the telescopic joint between the same for effecting the adjustment thereof to fit tops of different Widths; Fig. 20'illustrates a erspective view of one section of the said ow or bracket; and Fig. 21 illustrates a perspective view of a fra ment of the 00- operating element thereo In these drawings 25 denotes the front seat of an ordinary automobile, the configuration of which may be changed to suit particular requirements; 26 illustrates the front bow of a top 27, but as these elements do not form a part of the present invention, it is obvious that they may be of any of the well known types.

It is the purpose of the inventor to provide the front bow 26 with a clamp for holding the bracket or bow which supports the dividing curtain and to that end, one of such clamps 28 is fastened on the inner surface of the bow on each side a convenient distance from the top, preferably at a point about or near the joint between the metallic sockets and the wooden bows now commonly used, although the position of the clamps is not material.

Associated with the clamps 28 is a bracket or bow 29 from which the curtain 30 is suspended, said curtain at its lower edge being preferably provided with any type of fasteners 31 by which it is secured to the back of the seat. WVhen desired, the dividing curtain 30 may have a joint 32 transversely ofthe seat, the length of each section of the curtain being such that the said sections preferably overlap and the sections may be secured together by fasteners 33 When the dividin curtain is to be folde sections of'the dividing curtain are rat the joint 32 and the two section toward the sides of thetop :z folded into the positions show the drawing, the sections of th* tending transversely of the tops, I zontal position parallel with. thliorizontal portion of the bracket 29, the inner end of each section being suspended by a loop or strap 34 extending around the bracket'29, and the folded curtain. The bracket clamp shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 comprises a base plate 35 which may be secured to a how by the screws 36 passing through the apertures 36, the said base plate having curved slots 37 therein, each having an enlarged portion 38 at one end, the enlarged portion 0 one of the slots being at the end opposite to that of the enlarged portion of the companion slot so that the enlarged portions may receive the heads 40 of the studs 41 which extend inwardly from the top plate 42. The inner surface ofthe base plate. 35 is provided with channels 43 producing a clearance for the heads 40 of the studs 41 so that when the said heads are inserted in the enlargements of'the slots, the top plate 42 may be turned on the-base plate for the purpose of adjusting the position of the socket 44 carried by the top plate in order that it may stand at a. proper angle with relation to the bow or that it may be moved to a position parallel with the bow when the top is to be folded. As

. shown, the said socket 44 has a set screw 45 for clamping the bow or bracket at different positions of adjustment so that its relation to the bowof the top and its position with relation to the back of the front seat of the vehicle to which the dividing curtain is applied may be regulated. 1

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 I have illustrated a clamp embodying a modification and in which the base plate 46 is shown as having apertures 46 for receiving appropriate fastenings, the said base plate 46 having threaded studs 47 extending outwardly from the outer surface of the said base. The outer plate 48 has curved slots 49 therein adapted to receive the studs 47 and the plate 48 is held at different positions of adjustment with relation to the base 46 through the medium of the wing nuts 50 which are threaded on the studs 47 and bind against the outer plate so that the said outer plate is frictionally held in different positions of adjustment. The plate 48 has a socket 51 with a set screw 52 which serve to hold the bracket at different positions of adjustment. The modification just described provides means, as stated, for holding the bracket at different angles with relation to the top and it also is effective to carry the bow or bracket into a position parallel with the bow to which the clamping member is applied.

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 illustrate a further modification of a bow or bracket clamp and in this form the base 53 has apertures 53 for receiving fasteners and it also has a threaded stud 54, whereas the plate 55 which has the socket-.56 thereon has a threaded aperture 57 to receive the threaded stud 54. It is obvious that the plate 55 may be turned or the stud 54 so that the socket 56 is broughi to different positions with relation to El bow and as a means for retaining the plat( 55 in proper position with relation to tilt plate 53 when the required adjustment ha: been attained, a set screw 58 is threaded through the plate 55 and is adapted to bee:

on the base plate 53 and retain the said part in properly adjusted position. The socke 56 has a set screw 59 for clamping tl11 bracket in the socket.

In Figs. 14 and 15, I show a device by' which an ordinary bow may be suspended for holding a dividing curtain in which a base plate-6O is attached to an ordinary vehicle bow by fasteners such as screws- 61, the said base plate 60 having a plate 62 with a socket 63. In this form, an arm. 64 is adjustable in the socket 63 and the upper end of the arm is provided with means 66 for 10 the reception of an ordinary wooden bow 64. This last mentioned modification when used in conjunction with said ordinary wooden bows will present advantages over known devices for such use, as it is Well known that wooden bows are made of .certain graduated sizes and the difiiculties heretofore experienced in fitting vehicles with di viding curtains, in WlllCh the ordinary wooden bows are employed "reside in part in the multiplicity of sizes necessary to be carried in stock b the curtain manufacturers and while this last mentioned modification will perhaps not be universally used owing to thedifficulties experienced with the wooden hows, it nevertheless provides for an adjustment of the support for the dividing curtain so that the said support may stand at a proper angle with relation to the top and be adjusted to lie parallel with the how of the vehicle top when the said topis" to be folded. I

The. dividin curtain 30 may be suspended from the brac ret or how in a number of different ways and in Fi 's. 16, 17 and 18, I

have illustrated someoI the methods which may be-employed for connecting the curtain to the said how or bracket. It is to be understood that the dividing curtain is preferably to be of the folding type, the 40 said curtain beingprovided with creases or folds 67, and further with panels 68 of some transparent material such as celluloid of such size and shape as may be desirable and as shown in Fig. 16, the curtain 30' may be 4-3 folded on itself and stitched to form a flange 69 provided with an eyelet 7 0 adapted to receive the bracket or bow 29, so that the curtain maybe slid along the bracket or bow that the said curtain may be nested in'the manner heretofore described and as fully illustrated. v

The modification shown in Fig. 17 illustrates the curtain 30 as having a tab 71 sewed to it, the said tab 71 being provided with an eyelet 72 to receive the bow or bracket,

In Fig. 18, I have illustrated a still further modification in which the curtain 30 has an integral tab or ear 7 3 provided with an eyelet 7 1 to receive the bow or bracket,

and it is obvious that the dividing curtain may be suspended in any appropriate way I without departing from the spirit of the invention.- As shown in Figs. 10-, 20 and 21, the bow or bracket 29 is formed of tubular sections 29 and 29",.the latter forming a socket 29 to receive a in 29 which extends from thesection 29, t 1e said construction being pro vided for the purpose of enabling the manu- 7o facturer of the dividing curtain to adapt the bow. or bracket to tops of different widths as it is obvious that the end of the section 29 may be cut off to reduce the length of such sectionin order that the bow or bracket of 15 .whlch 1t is a part may be fitted to the top a to. be supplied with the, dividing curtain.

While I have referred to the element 29 in the alternative term bracket or how, I

wish to be understood bv said term as mean- 30 ing any support for tie dividing curtain which may be held by the clamps vand to avoid alternative terms in the claims, the said element 29 will be referred to in the claims as a bracket by which the inventor 35 intends to cover any equivalentelement.

I claim 1. In an attachment for vehicle tops, clamping members, each comprising a base, a' plate rotatable with relation to the base, means for holding the plate at different positions of adjustment, a socket carried by the late, a bracket having arms slidable in tiie sockets of the clamping members, said clamping members being adapted to be secured to a bow of a vehicle top, with the arms of the bracket in the sockets of the said clamps whereby the said bracket may be held at an angle with relation to the bow or parallel therewith,jauda divid- 10o ing curtain suspended by the said bracket. 2. In an attachment for vehicle tops, clamping members, each comprising a'base, a plate rotatable with relation to the base, means for holding the plate at different positions of adjustment, a socket carried by the plate, a bracket having arms slidable in the sockets of the clamping members, said clamping members being adapted to be secured to a bow of a vehicle top, with the arms of the bracket in the sockets of the said clamps whereby the said bracket may be held at an angle, with relation to the bow or parallel therewith, and a dividing curtain and means for suspendin the same from the said bracket, said dividing curtain being foldable on the arms of the bracket and adapted to lie parallel with the main portion of the bracket when in folded position. 3. In an attachment for vehicle tops, a bracket comprising telescopic sections, each of which is provided with an arm, clamps secured to a bow ofa vehicle top, said clamps having sockets for the reception of the said arms of the'clamps, means associated with the clamps for permitting adjustment of the brackets at angles with relation to the bow or to assume a position parallel to the said how, a curtain, means vehicle, means whereby the sockets are supported by the members, means for securing' the said sockets to the members in different positions of adjustment,-means for retaining the arms in the sockets, a curtain, and means for suspending the curtain from the bracket, whereby the said curtain is foldable and adapted to be moved from the bracket to the arms thereof for storage.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WEBB 0. SWEET.

Witnesses:

Lo'rrm E. BnRKLEY, PEARL A. PUINAM. 

